Scientific Diving Association Kiel

Founded in 2009, Scientific Diving Association Kiel is a non-profit association based in Großenaspe, Germany working on environment & climate, nature & wildlife conservation, science & research +1 more.

The Scientific Diving Association Kiel e.V. (SDA Kiel) is a volunteer-run association founded in December 2009 that combines recreational and scientific diving with marine and species conservation. Based in Großenaspe near Kiel, Germany, it works mainly in the Baltic Sea and the western Baltic, with international conservation projects such as sea turtle protection in Tanzania. Its main project is the recovery and documentation of ghost nets, supported by a web-based reporting system and public database launched in 2015 and 2018. The association also carries out clean-up operations in the Kieler Förde, harbour porpoise conservation, and underwater archaeology, including the Monte Olivia silver treasure. Operations are carried out by trained research divers and experienced recreational divers, mainly using diver-based recovery methods. The association is funded through donations, membership fees and third-party project funding, and issues donation receipts for tax purposes. It is registered in the Vereinsregister of the Amtsgericht Kiel.